* Foundation Giving To Decline
* Obama Signs Natl Service Bill
* Health Care Reform Heats Up

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Here is my take on the stories that interest me this morning, and why I think they may be interesting to nonprofits, foundations, and community organizations:

• Foundations plan to reduce giving in 2009. In a survey of 1,200 foundations by the Foundation Center (one of the most respected sources for information on philanthropy), “Close to two-thirds of foundations responding . . . expect to reduce the number and/or the size of grants they award in 2009.”
  • My take: This is certainly expected, as foundations are essentially conservative entities. They typically generate no income other than investment returns and their management must also typically ensure that the foundation will continue in perpetuity. But I can’t help but think, isn’t this the time to increase giving? Now is when the need is greatest. That would require a wholesale change in mindset, however.
• President to sign national service into law. From the White House press briefing: “[Today] the President will sign national service legislation passed by Congress a few weeks ago. Scheduled to attend that event are former President Bill Clinton and Senator Ted Kennedy, for whom the bill is named.”
  • My take: This is one of a series of moves by the Obama administration to forge a new relationship between citizens and government.
• Sides are already lining up for health care battle. With congress set to decide between health care and climate change as their chief fast-track issues, and the White House pushing for health care reform, lines are being drawn already among Democrats, subjecting Obama to political crossfire. Conservatives are demanding a consumer-based proposal, but many Democrats say that without a public insurance option any plan is a non-starter.Obama recently signaled a “willingness to compromise” and this raised alarms among Democrats.
  • My take: This is one of the largest issues facing the Administration. To date, it is doing many of the right things to avoid a repeat of the health care reform debacle from the first Clinton administration.

Thanks for reading,

Brad